The new feature, available on both Android and iPhone, is aimed at breaking down communication limitations among WhatsApp’s global community of more than three billion people. 

Android users will initially access six languages, including English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic, while iPhone users will have access to over 19 languages from the start. More will be added over time.

To use the feature, a user only needs to long-press a message and select the “Translate” option. The translated version will appear instantly, and preferred languages can be saved for quicker future use. It works in one-on-one conversations, group chats, and even Channel updates.

Android users have an additional option: automatic translation of an entire chat thread. Once enabled, every incoming message in that conversation will be translated by default.

Meta noted that the function is built with privacy in mind. “Message translations were designed to protect the privacy of your chats. That’s why translations occur on your device where WhatsApp cannot see them,” the company explained.

The update is being introduced gradually and will reach users in different regions in phases. In embedding translation directly into the app, WhatsApp hopes to make communication easier and more seamless across cultures, ensuring users no longer have to rely on third-party tools.

Until now, messages were automatically deleted either 24 hours after being viewed by everyone in a chat or 31 days after being sent. With Infinite Retention, users can choose which conversations to preserve, and all participants are notified whenever the setting is activated.

The update also brings “Group Streaks,” enabling multiple friends to contribute to a shared streak. Previously, streaks were limited to one-on-one interactions, requiring daily exchanges between two people. 

Group Streaks continue as long as most members participate, and if a streak is broken, it can be restored within a week. “We’ve often heard from our community that Snapchatters want to save their chats forever and wish they could build streaks with their favourite groups,” the company said in a statement.

Infinite Retention can be toggled on or off for each chat, and both parties receive notifications when the feature is enabled or disabled. This ensures users maintain control over which conversations remain permanent while keeping other interactions ephemeral.

Snapchat originally built its reputation on disappearing messages, but this update aligns the platform more closely with traditional messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage. 

The change comes when competition from TikTok, Instagram Threads, and Discord is increasing, as Snap aims to boost engagement and time spent in chats, a key metric for advertisers.

Via Infinite Retention, Snapchat is now joining a trend in social apps, offering users flexibility in how they communicate, blending permanent and ephemeral messaging. Signal and Telegram have long provided disappearing messages with optional permanence, and Snapchat’s latest features bring it firmly into this hybrid messaging space.